Frankie and Johnny

Frankie and Johnny is the twelfth soundtrack album by American singer and musician Elvis Presley, released on RCA Victor Records in mono and stereo, LPM/LSP 3553, in April 1966. An excursion into Dixieland and ragtime music, it is the soundtrack to the 1966 film of the same name starring Presley. Recording sessions took place at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California, on May 12, 13, and 14, 1965. It peaked at number 20 on the Top LP's chart. It was certified Gold and Platinum on January 6, 2004 by the Recording Industry Association of America. Content To coincide with the 19th century setting of the film, some traditional song material was used for the soundtrack. "When the Saints Go Marching In" is an old gospel hymn that has become a jazz standard associated with the traditional hot jazz of New Orleans. It is paired in a medley with "Down by the Riverside", another traditional gospel song dating back to the relevant time period. Both are in the public domain, and the team of Giant, Baum, and Kaye captured the publishing for Freddy Bienstock and Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The title song, "Frankie and Johnny," is a variant on the American popular song first published in 1904 and credited to Hughie Cannon. With changed lyrics, another publishing royalty was secured for Gladys Music. Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that, due to the film's period setting, the album is dominated by retro Dixieland music, while biographer Mike Eder wrote that the period setting allows the album to "[get] away with a bit more than usual", with a deliberately "outdated" sound. Peter Jones and Jopling Norman described the record as "very rag-time", with vibrant, brassy backings that add variety to Presley's catalogue. The authors of Elvis (2001) wrote that the album de-emphasised Presley's "rocking beat" in favour of "old-timey Dixie and ragtime beat". Adam Litovitz noted the mix of traditional songs "with an ersatz Dixieland flavor" alongside "blues, gospel, and gypsy music at their cheesiest." Regarding the title track, Eder noted that "touches of jazz" are rare on a Presley album. He also noted the "mock-gypsy melody" on "Chesay" and added that "Everybody Come Around", "Shout It Out" and "Come Along" have vaudeville arrangements with "old-time Dixie horns", ukulele and banjo. Twelve songs were recorded at the sessions for Frankie and Johnny, and all were used and issued on the soundtrack.